Source record
Drivers of deforestation: soy, and what it is used for
Hannah Ritchie (2021). Our World in Data. Our World in Data.
- Last reviewed
- Reviewer
- Editorial placeholder
- Status
- sample
Sample data. The figures and sources on this page are demonstration records showing how evidence will be presented. They are approximate and have not yet been through our review process. Read about how we will verify evidence.
Key findings
- More than three-quarters of global soy is fed to livestock; only a small share (around 7%) is eaten directly by people as tofu, soy milk and similar products.
Record
- Source type
- Report
- Study type
- Review
- Topics
- Deforestation, Land use
- Geography
- Global, with a focus on South America
- Funding & conflicts
- Not recorded.
- Source quality
- Moderate evidenceWell-documented secondary synthesis of primary datasets.
Limitations
- Synthesises other datasets (FAO, Trase); allocation of soybean oil versus meal is a methodological choice.
Statistics we use from this source
- 77%Share of global soy used as animal feed
- 7%Share of global soy eaten directly by people
Claims this source supports
EnvironmentStrong evidence
More than three-quarters of the world's soy is fed to livestock; only around 7% is eaten directly by people.
Soy grown for tofu and soy milk is a small slice of the total. Most soy feeds chickens, pigs and cows.